I Won’t Pick Up The T*ash I Threw Away Again - Chapter 152
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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#152
“The white chrysanthemums you placed in front of Misa’s memorial tablet—did you personally pick and bring them?”
I asked Kalian directly as soon as I met him.
Kalian looked at me with slight bewilderment.
“How did you… No, more than that, the fact that you saw it means…”
When I nodded, Kalian frowned.
“I told you to get plenty of sleep, but you didn’t sleep and went to the orphanage early in the morning.”
“Your Majesty didn’t sleep either.”
“I don’t sleep much originally.”
“I don’t sleep much either.”
I was just stating a fact, but Kalian clicked his tongue as if displeased.
“Your way of talking back is becoming more and more like Ber. You’ve been influenced badly.”
“Should I stop then?”
“That’s also like Ber.”
Really annoying.
Kalian muttered to himself, then dipped his quill pen in ink.
“You seemed disappointed that there were no chrysanthemums, so I just brought some. It also seemed like proper courtesy to someone who had taken care of you.”
“Even so, there was no need for you to personally pick flowers and bring them…”
“At times like this, you just need to say thank you.”
Kalian cut me off decisively.
I smiled and bowed my head.
“Thank you.”
“Good, you listen well.”
Kalian signed the documents, then handed them to me.
“Take this to the Legal Department, and what’s the afternoon schedule like?”
I took the documents and told him the afternoon schedule.
“…That’s all.”
“There’s about an hour free after lunch time.”
“Yes.”
“Let’s do horseback riding practice then.”
“Understood… What?”
Kalian, who already knew how to ride horses perfectly, wouldn’t be doing horseback riding practice.
It was definitely about me.
I waved my hands in panic.
“I’m fine.”
“Didn’t you say you wanted to ride a horse yourself during the New Year festival? There’s less than a month left until the New Year festival, so you need to practice diligently.”
That was true, but I felt bad about taking up Kalian’s busy time.
That one hour was time I had created to give him a moment to breathe.
Moreover, since there had been an accident before, I felt even more uncomfortable about learning horseback riding from him.
“I cannot take up Your Majesty’s precious time.”
I couldn’t mention the latter reason, so I only gave the former one.
“I’m doing it to exercise too, so you don’t need to think you’re taking up my time.”
Kalian smiled and stood up from his seat.
“So let’s do horseback riding practice then. I want to see you riding a horse in the parade during this New Year festival too.”
How could I refuse when he said it like that?
“Understood.”
I had no choice but to accept.
* * *
“She broke off the engagement on her own whim, and now there hasn’t been a single contact.”
Countess Tebesa snapped her fan shut irritably.
“How can someone be so equally selfish then and now? She’s a child where you can’t find a single likeable aspect even if you wash your eyes and look.”
Andante, sitting across from her, hid his sneer behind his teacup.
“You think so too, don’t you, dear?”
“Of course.”
When he put down his teacup again, he wore the smile of a good son.
“But she’s your only daughter, so please understand with your generous heart, Mother.”
“Daughter, my foot. I’ve never once thought of that child as a daughter.”
Countess Tebesa snorted and crossed her arms.
“I raised her all this time because she was useful. Girls can be sold off through marriage.”
She thought it would be profitable business even if Leilah married into a decent count’s family, but Leilah actually married into the Williot Duchy.
No, she almost married into it.
They got engaged and prepared everything for the wedding, but foolishly, Leilah declared the engagement broken first, saying she didn’t want to marry Fillen.
Countess Tebesa had been waiting for Leilah to become a duchess,
waiting for the crumbs to fall, when she heard that news and collapsed, clutching the back of her neck.
Countess Tebesa wanted to rush to Leilah immediately and give her a piece of her mind, but she didn’t because of Fillen.
“Leilah will definitely marry me. So don’t worry.”
She had waited, believing those words, but the result was a complete mess as you can see.
Leilah and Fillen eventually broke off their engagement, and Countess Tebesa received pity and ridicule from social circles.
According to plan, she should have conquered social circles with the reputation of being the stepmother of the Duchess Williot, but to receive such treatment.
“That utterly useless wench!”
Getting angry again just thinking about it, Countess Tebesa gripped her fan tightly.
“Calm down, Mother.”
In contrast, Andante smiled leisurely and spoke to Countess Tebesa.
“Although Leilah didn’t become the Duchess Williot, she became the Emperor’s mistress instead.”
“Is that true?”
Countess Tebesa frowned.
“There were stories saying it was just a rumor.”
“Who said that?”
“Who said it? Everyone around is saying that. It was even in the newspapers.”
“That’s a lie.”
Andante said elegantly while drinking tea.
“The Emperor deliberately published false articles to protect Leilah.”
“Really?”
“Of course. Have I ever lied to you, Mother?”
“No.”
“So please believe what I say.”
Andante moved to sit next to Countess Tebesa and gently took her hand.
“Leilah definitely became the Emperor’s mistress. Otherwise, there would be no reason for the Emperor to make Leilah his aide.”
“True, that child has some clever tricks, but she’s not smart enough to become an administrator.”
This time Countess Tebesa took Andante’s hand.
“If we’re talking about administrators, you would be more suited for it.”
Her eyes looking at her beloved son were full of affection.
“Our son needs to become an administrator soon.”
I don’t really want to become an administrator though.
Those words lingered in his mouth before disappearing.
Even if she spoke up, Countess Tebesa wouldn’t listen anyway, so Andante didn’t bother bringing it up.
“I was thinking of asking her to let me into the Williot Duchy as a vassal when she became the Duchess Williot, but since that won’t happen, she should at least become an imperial administrator.”
“An imperial administrator?”
“Yes. If that girl really became the Emperor’s mistress, arranging that kind of position would be easy, wouldn’t it?”
Countess Tebesa smiled brightly as she stroked Andante’s cheek.
“So let’s meet with that girl and demand she create a position for you. If she has any shame, she’ll do at least that much.”
* * *
As promised, after lunch I headed to the equestrian training ground.
Me, Kalian.
“Wow, the weather is really nice.”
And even Baron Delrond.
Kalian frowned deeply and asked Baron Delrond.
“Why are you here?”
Baron Delrond grinned as he looked at Kalian.
“Why am I here? I came to ride horses too.”
“Weren’t you busy?”
“It’s fine. I finished my busy work.”
“….”
Just as Kalian pressed his lips together and was about to open them again.
Neighhhh-
The stable manager brought Ilena and Nero.
It had been a long time since I’d seen Ilena.
“Ilena.”
I smiled brightly and approached Ilena.
I was worried she might have forgotten me, but fortunately she seemed to remember as Ilena accepted my touch without resistance.
Baron Delrond gasped as he watched me.
“Wow, Baron Aster. You’re riding Ilena?”
“Yes. Do you know Ilena?”
“Of course. Ilena is a famous horse that His Majesty brought back as spoils of war when he participated in battles in the past.”
That meant she was a famous horse among famous horses.
It felt very burdensome for me to own such a horse.
“I really think I shouldn’t take Ilena….”
“Ilena already thinks of you as her master.”
As if knowing what I was about to say, Kalian mounted Nero smoothly and spoke.
“So you must take her with you. Otherwise Ilena will think she’s been abandoned and get hurt.”
How could that be. I looked at Ilena in confusion.
Her innocently sparkling eyes seemed to confirm that Kalian’s words were true.
“Well then, shall we try riding?”
“Your Majesty, what about my horse?”
At Baron Delrond’s question, Kalian chuckled.
“Why are you asking me that? Ber, you should have brought your own horse.”
“I can’t bring my horse into the Imperial Palace!”
Only horses and carriages with the Emperor’s permission could enter the Imperial Palace.
“Then give me permission!”
“I don’t want to.”
“Then lend me Your Majesty’s horse!”
“I like that even less!”
“Really, look at that nasty attitude!”
“Pfft.”
Their bickering was so funny that I burst out laughing without realizing it.
Then all eyes focused on me.
Hmm, was my laughter too loud?
I smiled somewhat awkwardly and covered my mouth with my hand.
Baron Delrond and Kalian glanced at each other, then quickly turned their heads away.
“Since His Majesty won’t lend me a horse, there’s nothing I can do. Baron Aster, let’s ride together.”
“What?”
“Who said you could ride Ilena?”
When Kalian frowned deeply, Baron Delrond tilted his head.
“Well, it’s up to Baron Aster. Baron Aster is Ilena’s owner.”
“Why is Leilah Ilena’s owner?”
“Because Your Majesty gave her to her? You said so just a few minutes ago. Surely you remember?”
Unable to deny that, Kalian closed his mouth. His frowning expression remained.
Regardless, Baron Delrond asked me.
“Baron Aster, we can ride together, right? It would also be better for teaching you how to ride.”
“That’s true, but….”
“If you want to ride a horse that badly, I’ll lend you one.”
Kalian dismounted from Nero and placed Nero’s reins in Baron Delrond’s hands.
“Ride Nero.”
Baron Delrond’s eyes widened. His mouth fell open.
“You want me to ride Nero? That ferocious horse?”
Snorrrrt-
As if understanding Baron Delrond’s words, Nero snorted.
“Nero says no.”
“Of course not! He’s ferocious!”
“Whatever.”
Kalian cleanly ignored him and grabbed my shoulder.
“I’ll teach Leilah how to ride, so you spend that time getting friendly with Nero.”
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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